Florida sheriff's deputy charged with attempted manslaughter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Florida deputy has been charged with attempted manslaughter.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that Deputy Timothy Virden was arrested and fired on Friday.

On Dec. 30, Virden arrested 26-year-old Dylan Tompkins-Holmes on an obstruction of justice charge. Virden reported that Tompkins-Holmes was telling his girlfriend not to cooperate during a DUI stop. Virden said he tried to help a handcuffed Thompkins-Holmes when he complained about being uncomfortable. Virden said Tompkins-Holmes tried to grab the deputy's gun and the two struggled, which led to Virden shooting Tompkins-Holmes twice.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a news conference that another deputy and an audio recording contradicted Virden's account. The other deputy said Tompkins-Holmes never touched Virden's gun or actively resisted.

Virden was released from jail on $2,000 bail. Jail records don't list an attorney.